Effect of UV-C treatment on strawberry fruit gene expression

POMBO, MARINA ALEJANDRA; ROSLI, HERNÁN GUILLERMO; CHAMALA, S; CIVELLO, PEDRO MARCOS; BARBAZUK, B; FOLTA, KEVIN M.

Daytona Beach, Florida, EEUU

Workshop; XXIII Annual PMCB Workshop; 2010

UV-C radiation of fruit has been used in different fruits to control postharvest diseases and delay some ripening processes. Nevertheless, there is little information available concerning the mechanism by which beneficial UV-C induced changes occur. In this work, we analyzed the expression and activity of different enzymes and proteins involved in cell wall disassembly and in pathogen defense. Ripe strawberry fruits were irradiated with UV-C (410 mJ / cm 2). Control fruit received identical treatment with a Plexiglass filter. Samples were taken at different time intervals and the expression and activity of genes was analyzed. The expression of cell wall degradation genes (FaEXP2, FaPG1, FaCel1 and FaPE1) was found to be higher in control fruit in the first hours of storage. Moreover, defense related enzymes (FaPAL, beta-1,3 glucanase, chitinase, peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase) were increased at different times after the treatment. Finally, 4h was chosen for further analysis. Control and treated fruit were sequenced by 454 sequencing. We found a modification in the expression of different set of genes that are involved in cell wall modification, phenylpropanoid methabolism, DNA repair, ubiquitination and some transcription factors among others.